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Seven patients with a complete transhumeral limb amputation had their limb replanted.
In all seven limbs the mechanism of injury was avulsion, and the ischemic time was
relatively prolonged, with a range of 10 to 14 hours. The five patients with surviving
limbs achieved useful elbow control. Of these patients, two achieved useful distal
function to the wrist and hand and one had a below elbow amputation. All but one patient
required multiple secondary operative procedures, with an average of 2.8 procedures
for those patients with surviving limbs. We did not encounter any significant life-threatening
problems. Less serious complications were encountered in all but three patients during
the postoperative period. We suggest that limb replantation at transhumeral levels
may be of value for recovery of elbow function in most of these patients. In some
instances, this may permit the conversion of an above elbow level amputation to a
functional below elbow level. In a few patients, recovery of useful hand function
may be achieved.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 13,
1985
Received:
May 17,
1985
Footnotes
+Presented at the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association, Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico, April 24–28, 1985.
Identification
Copyright
© 1986 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
